[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 14 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Pages 614-615]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint United States-China Statement: Status of Negotiations on China's 
Accession to the World Trade Organization

April 8, 1999

    On the occasion of the official visit of the Premier of the 
Government of the People's Republic of China Premier Zhu Rongji, to the 
United States, President of the United States William Jefferson Clinton 
and Premier Zhu Rongji jointly affirm that China's admission to the 
World Trade Organization (WTO) is in the interest of the United States, 
the People's Republic of China, and the global trading system. To that 
end, they welcome the significant progress made by the United States and 
the People's Republic of China toward a strong agreement based on a 
balance of rights and obligations. Noting that agreement has not been 
reached on some important issues, they commit to work to resolve these 
remaining issues through further bilateral negotiations in order to 
conclude a strong agreement as the basis for the accession of the 
People's Republic of China to the WTO.
    President Clinton and Premier Zhu recognize the complexity of WTO 
accession negotiations. In this regard, they note that agreement has 
been reached on market access for agricultural and industrial goods as 
well as a wide range of services sectors, as set out in Attachment 1, 
but that certain matters remain to be resolved in banking, including 
consumer auto finance, as well as securities and audio visual services. 
They further welcome the conclusion of the Sino-U.S. Agricultural 
Cooperation Agreement, especially the resolution of bilateral issues 
concerning imports by the People's Republic of China of U.S. citrus, 
meat products, and Pacific Northwest wheat, as set out in Attachment 2. 
President Clinton and Premier Zhu note agreement has been reached on a 
variety of important rules to be applicable to the WTO, concerning 
trading rights, technology transfer and offsets, state enterprises, and 
subsidies, as set out in Attachment 3. However, they recognize that 
certain differences remain to be resolved on a mechanism to ensure 
implementation, the duration of provisions governing dumping and product 
safeguards, and rules governing textiles trade.
    President Clinton and Premier Zhu welcome this significant progress 
and instruct their trade ministers to resume bilateral negotiations in 
order to satisfactorily resolve the important remaining issues as soon 
as possible in support of the common goal of admission of the People's 
Republic of China to the WTO on strong commercial terms in 1999.

[[Page 615]]

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.